HOME BASE
San Diego
Written By: Nicole Hakim // Photographed By: Bhadri Kubendran
“IT MAKES ME HAPPY THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY LUXURY. THEY DON’T HAVE TO SNEAK AROUND, AND THE RESORT PASS ALLOWS THEM JUSTIFYING GOING TO A HOTEL.” —AMANDA SZABO
Amanda Szabo FOUNDER OF RESORTPASS
Q: What inspired you to create ResortPass? Amanda Szabo: There are so many resorts in San Diego and all I wanted to do is lie by the pool, have a drink and go in the hot tub at hotels near where I live. I didn’t feel comfortable sneaking in, so I’m thinking these pools are empty a lot of the time; so why can’t I pay just to be there? I hadn’t been able to do that because hotels didn’t have a system, so I connected these two sides by providing that system for hotels to benefit from hotel day-guests. Q: Which hotels have accepted and began selling ResortPass? AS: There are a few. The first one was the Estancia La Jolla Hotel &
Spa. They had a beautiful pool and a really nice spa. They benefitted from locals looking to use their pools and cabanas. Other hotels include the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa and the Paséa Hotel & Spa, as well as hotels in Hawaii, Texas, Florida and Arizona. Q: What is the best part about creating a way for people to have a “daycation”? AS: It makes me happy that people can enjoy luxury. They don’t have to sneak around, and the pass allows them justifying going to a hotel. It opens up more opportunities to people, and I look forward to allowing them the opportunity to experience it.
ResortPass www.resortpass.com @resortpass Photoshoot Location: AquaVie Fitness and Wellness Club 234 Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 619.557.3663 www.westgatehotel.com/services/aquavie-spa-wellness-club 118 LOCALE MAGAZINE
WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK • Szabo is now too busy to enjoy the product, but she loves that she is able to bring that experience to other people. CALI ORIGINS • ResortPass was launched in May 2016, operating in San Diego, Palm Desert and Santa Barbara. It’s now extended to Orange County, Los Angeles, Napa Valley and Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Arizona and New Mexico.